Thanks Sara for your wonderful memories twenty two years ago 5th November 1982 seeing ABBA in London.

I would like to share with you all my meeting with ABBA which took place the following day, Sat 6th November! As Sara explained, of ABBA's movements in London the previous day. Saturday's activities started off with Benny and Agnetha appearing on BBC TV's Superstore taking telephone calls from viewers whilst Bjorn and Frida conducted more interviews back at the hotel.

So onto the afternoon itself, and I had been fortunate enough through John Spalding at Bocu Music who arranged to meet me at the foyer at the BBC TV centre. ( I had known John since 1978 when I ran my own ABBA fan club called the Channel Islands ABBA Newsletter which was published monthly). Problem number one set in straight away as I had to convince the security guard at the entrance that I did have a 3.30pm meeting with Mr Spalding. He eventually phoned through to reception and the barrier was lifted! I was a nervous wreck before I had even arrived there! I had to pull myself together as I saw John standing in reception watching football on the big screen. Benny then came in enquiring how Arsenal were doing ( Benny wore the Arsenal team's shirt on Superstore that morning). In fact whenever members of ABBA were in town and Arsenal were playing at home, John often took them along mainly individually!

"So you got through then" said John as he welcomed me and introduced me to Benny. " looks like Arsenal are loosing" I said to Benny ( what an opening line I thought) " its only half time though" he commented. I was then escorted through to their dressing room door A marked Bjorn and Benny ( the girls had room B marked Agnetha and Frida) and were unavailable at this time as they were being made up! So into their dressing room and I commented that they both seemed really relaxed after a hectic time already spent in London. "Its gone really well" commented Bjorn. "As usual we have had a fantastic reception, but interviews and more interviews and a get together with our record company" he stated. "John and Carole look after us well when we are in London though" said Benny. (Carole Broughton is Manager of Bocu). I mentioned that The Day Before You Came was climbing the charts a lot slower than previous releases. " Well it is a change of direction slightly" said Bjorn, "but we are pleased with it and you will see the video later on the show."

Noel Edmonds then came into the room to advise the dress rehearsal was about to start. I caught sight of Agnetha and Frida leaving their dressing room and I was allowed to sit through the run through as technicians adjusted the sound and lighting. The guy next to me noted the timing of the clips to be shown and the length of the show. Once they had finished the ABBA members went back to their dressing rooms and I chose this moment to grab a bite to eat in the BBC canteen. In no time at all it was 6.45pm and Showtime and live on air to millions of viewers tuned in to this prime time show. The atmosphere in the studio was just electric. Even now as I write this in 2004 - I just tingle with excitement and nervousness as I relieve it as if it were yesterday!

The BBC in order to create a party atmosphere, gave us silly hats and streamers to wave around and whistles to blow as the first act on Modern Romance sang their latest hit The Best Time of Our Lives. It seemed eternity as we waited for ABBA to come on which was right at the end. The video to The Day Before You Came was shown first. Oh how can I forget Agnetha's wonderful performance - that coy smug grin on the train - wow how many times have I tried to copy that since then on the no 20 bus or Gatwick Express Train!!!!!!

Noel introduced the band members and we all went wild ABBA ABBA ABBA!!!!! and they went over to sit on the couch. "Its hard to believe that ABBA are celebrating 10 years and the papers are all full of the story that you are splitting up" he said. This was denied by Bjorn " If we did, we would all decide together and the time would be when it is not fun anymore." Each member was then asked to choose a favourite ABBA track, why and a snippet of the subsequent video played.

Agnetha chose Fernando " At all our concerts, people like to sing along and clap their hands" she said. Noel had to add " and we get a bit of sexy bottom" Agnetha replied " is it necessary?"

Frida became agitated with Benny when she spoke about her favourite Dancing Queen. "it is a difficult choice" she said "Benny and Bjorn have written so many good songs" Benny replied "Thank You" and Frida said " But you should know that" to which Benny said " but you never said that before." By now Frida was getting annoyed and snapped back " ok, so its the first time". We all kept quiet in the audience not knowing whether to clap or laugh!! Away from the squabbles, Frida went on to say " recording the backing track I really felt something from the heart."

Benny chose Chiquitita "its one of our best songs" he confirmed!

Bjorn picked The Winner Takes It All. " As it was told it was to be my choice" he joked! "it has a beautiful haunting melody, a lyric about two lovers parting" and Noel piped in " and it earned you a lot of money."

As the song faded, competition winner Kevin Munn ( whatever happened to him sic 2004?) came on stage and all four walked over to the front and sang Thank You For The Music. The show actually overrun and only the first chorus was televised. For those of us in the audience we were subjected to the whole song finalising in thunderous applause which seemed to go on forever as we all spilled out of the studio.

I joined John Spalding at the side door where it was time for a few photos and autographs. I wished Frida a happy birthday for the following week and commented on her new hairstyle for which I received... a kiss and as a result I did not wash for a week!! The security guards came through and said the cars were waiting outside the building. They were parked a close together as possible by the exit as there were crowds of fans building up outside. There were about 20 of us including Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and John and Carole. We were asked to line up in pairs - I picked the short straw as I had to stand next to Frida!!!!!! Wow!!!

As we walked down the corridor, I didn't know what to expect when suddenly the doors were opened to mass hysteria. It became very frightening indeed as I was just carried over to the opposite side of the road by just the pressure from the crowd gathered outside. Fans were screaming and shouting as firstly Agnetha and Carole made it to the first car. Frida unfortunately was less fortunate as she became trapped and couldn't move as the security guards pushed their way through to get to her "Frida, Frida, Frida" - fans were crying it was so emotional but scary!!!!! She managed to get in the car but fans were clambering over the bonnet and running alongside as the guards with loud hailers instructed everyone to get back otherwise they might get hurt!!!

As they disappeared into the distance for a meal at Trader Vics, I just stayed there dazed and stunned in the cold November air and so happy that after 10 years ABBA were still massively huge, but little did I know personally that it would be the last time that I would see all four of them together as a group!!!

Three weeks later ABBA were back at number 1 in the LP charts in the UK!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Vaughan Davies, Guernsey, UK